Lesson 2 Stress and Body Image What are

Lesson 2: Stress and Body Image

What are we talking about today? Ø Common mental health issues related to stress and body image. Ø Stressful situations that affect us personally. Ø Discuss different ways people can react to stressful situations.

Dealing with Stressful Situations Stress: Ø the body’s normal response to situations perceived as “alarming”. Ø The ways in which people react to stress can vary greatly. Ø Everyone can learn skills to cope with stress that contribute to optimal mental health. Ø Making healthy choices and seeking support when needed helps us lead a balanced life. Ø

Stress Can Be Positive or Negative Ø stress is not always a bad thing and can in certain situations contribute to optimum performance. Ø What could happen if a person had too little stress? l l l If a person is under too little stress, it will be difficult to become self-motivated to perform well. Too little stress can express itself in feelings of boredom when someone is not being challenged enough. An optimum level of stress brings the benefits of alertness and activation.

Excessive Stress Ø Can hinder performance and enjoyment. These excessive levels of stress occur when… l l l what is asked of us is beyond our perceived abilities too much is asked of us in too short time span unnecessary obstacles are put in the way of achieving our goals

Negative Stress l l l Consumes mental energy that could be devoted to focusing on effective technique Can impair judgement and fine motor control damages the positive frame of mind needed for high-quality competition by: • promoting negative thinking • damaging self-confidence • narrowing attention

What else can cause stress? Ø negative thinking Ø more likely to succeed if we take a positive perspective Ø seeing a new/challenging situation as an opportunity to demonstrate skills at a higher level Ø “I’m in trouble” = less chance of success

Exercise and Stress Ø Many people use exercise as their primary stress -management strategy. Ø Regular exercise can remove by-products of the stress response and help release emotions. Ø Bouts of physical activity allow muscles to release their stored energy then return to resting state. This reduces tension. Ø The endorphins released when exercising, affect mood and promote a sense of happiness.

Complete the Stress Vulnerabilty Self-Test Ø Pgs. Ø Assess your results and complete the reflection.

What Is Body Image? Ø Our body image is how we feel about our own body and what we think our bodies look like to others. l genetics influence our facial features, body shape, height, and weight. l Even if everyone ate the same things and did the same amount/type of exercise, we still would not have the same bodies. l Remember….

Body Image Ø Ø Ø Body image is linked to self-esteem/self-concept It is shaped by past experiences, whether these are positive (such as athletic performance) or negative (such as abuse, disability, or bullying). Can be a concern for boys and girls no matter what their bodies actually look like. It is important not to make assumptions about someone else’s body image. People of all shapes and sizes can have a positive body image and people of all shapes and sizes can have a negative body image.

Personal Experiment

How do you see yourself? Ø Look at the people above. Then, on your own, without thinking about it too much, pick the body that you think: l l Is closest to what you look like. Is closest to how you want to look. Is the body type that’s most attractive to the opposite sex. Findings on next page….

Results… Ø At the U of Pennsylvania, psychologists tried this test on college students. They found that men and women view their bodies in dramatically different ways. l l l Men are satisfied with their looks. The avg. man says his ideal body is a #4 -that’s what he’d like to weigh-and he actually thinks he looks like that. He also thinks women are most attracted to that type-though women say that they like their men leaner. Women, in contrast, think the lbs. of fat lie between them & their ideal. They think, on avg. , they are somewhat slimmer than #4. But they think men would be most attracted to a #3 when men actually say they like women bigger than a #3. *These women want to be even thinner than #3 -significantly thinner than they think would be attractive to men. *

…every body is different

• An ideal body weight is a weight that allows us to feel strong and energetic, regardless of the number on the scale. • Someone with a healthy body has the energy to spend time with friends, participate in sports, and concentrate on school or work. • Eat balanced meals full of nutritious foods and participate in regularly in exercise.

Weight is Just a number!!!

Positive Body Image VS. Negative Body Image

WHAT IS POSITIVE BODY IMAGE? Ø An understanding that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes. Ø Physical appearance says nothing about our character or value Ø Keeping assessment of your body separate from your self-esteem Ø Don’t obsess over food, weight, and calories.

Effects of NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE l Increases the risk for extreme body/weight control behaviours l extreme dieting and exercise compulsion and eating disorders Related factors that contribute to extreme dieting: • • • depression decreased self-confidence increased feelings of anxiety, feelings of unattractiveness persistent concern about weight

Serious Disorders Caused by Negative Body Image l l Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an obsession with an “imagined” physical defect in appearance. This defect doesn’t actually exist. Muscle dysmorphia is thinking that one’s muscles are too small or too weak. Eating disorders including: l l l Anorexia nervosa is characterized by fear of weight gain and severe restriction of food intake, which can result in significant weight loss. Bulimia nervosa involves an attempt to avoid weight gain or to manage weight through frequent compensation by purging. Binge eating disorder defines a pattern of binge eating (feeling out of control while eating) without purging.

Distorted Self Image

Anorexia

Ø Self-esteem has an impact on how we view our bodies and is related to how we evaluate our own physical abilities, job skills, interpersonal abilities, family role, and body image. l Low self-esteem may develop if “ideal” body standards are not met and may result in size misperceptions, faulty beliefs, and negative feelings about one’s own body.

Negative body image may be influenced by: exposure to images of idealized versus normal teasing by friends or family life changes such as moving to a new school or city Ø TRAP: Comparing your bodies to others (friends, magazines, T. V Ø don’t let media or anyone else dictate what number should be on your scale. Ø history of abuse (physical or sexual) Ø physical changes (results of puberty, medical problems, surgery, or sports injuries. Ø Ø Ø

People with negative body image may: l l engage in excessive body checking (weighing, measuring, and trying on clothing) camouflage their size and shape with loose and bulky clothing avoid social situations that trigger physical self -consciousness avoid wearing bathing suits and/or shorts

How Do Eating and Body Image Go Together? Ø In general, eating disorders are examples of internal conflicts about food and/or body size and shape. Ø They are more complicated, however, than just having a big appetite and unhealthy eating patterns.

Media Messages Dove Videos: Evolution and Amy http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=i. Yh. Cn 0 jf 46 U The Photo shop effect (you tube) http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=YP 31 r 70_QNM Shredded http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Iv. J 4 quqcg 2 A

Key Understandings: Ø Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Ø “Body image” refers to the way we see our own body. Ø People who have a positive body image tend to demonstrate more healthy eating behaviours than those who have a negative body image.